Hibernian

We asked for your thoughts after Hibs ended their seven-game winless run with victory over Kilmarnock.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

John: Probably our poorest performance recently but we got the win, which is all that mattered. Nervy at the end as Kilmarnock piled forward but Fish and Rocky stood firm. Jair Tavares keeps getting better each game, which is credit to Montgomery and his coaches, but needs to cut out unforced errors. Sign two or three players in January and we’ll be ok.

Kenny: Another hard watch for the fans. I feel the tactics are stifling the team -we need to play more direct. We are always in danger of losing a goal with the tippy-tappy stuff we insist on playing. Come on Nick, let the team off the leash.

John: We've played better and lost so I'll take it. We still get careless playing out from the back - so many wayward passes cause panic. Tavares again showed he can be an important player for Hibs this season.

Fergis: Not a great game to watch but it was all about the three points. Great to get the clean sheet and this is a huge boost before the break. Hopefully we can kick on from here and start moving up the table.

Allan: Thought it was a controlled performance by Hibs. Didn’t really look like we were in any trouble defensively but at 1-0, there’s always a chance of an equaliser and thanks to a David Marshall save, it was a well deserved three points. Feels like more intensity is required in the build-up play and a few of the fans need to ease off Marshall.

• Hibernian have scored in 10 of their 13 Scottish Premiership games this season, no other team has done so more often in the top flight.

• They have also scored in their last three games in a row, netting five goals in that time.

• Josh Campbell made it three goals for the season, the most of any Hibs player in the league this term.

Hibs fans, were you at Easter Road to see your side finally end their winless run, or were you following along from home?

Either way, we want your thoughts on the game. Have your say here.

Nick Montgomery tells BBC Sportsound: "We've had a couple of decisions go against us, but performances have warranted better results. What's important is that we stick to the way we want to play.

"Today wasn't out best performance, but under the circumstances naturally there are going to be nerves towards the end there.

"We defended well today, and David Marshall was there at the end when it mattered.

"We were our own worst enemy again in terms of not killing the game off, but really proud of the boys. The fans were fantastic and really helped us.

"A clean sheet and three points - that's the main thing. Everybody gave a big shift."

Image source, SNS

Brian McLauchlin, BBC Sport Scotland at Easter Road

There was a sense of relief from the home fans when referee David Dickinson blew his full time whistle to ensure the win for Hibernian that ended a run of seven without victory.

Kilmarnock to their credit tried late on to expose Hibs' defensive frailties that have been evident in recent weeks but on this occasion the home defence stood firm.

The value of Martin Boyle to Hibernian cant be underestimated. His pace causes issues for opponents when chances just don’t look on.

There is work to be done though by both teams during the international break as they head in to the busy Christmas period if they are to achieve their ultimate goals of the campaign.

Hibernian XI: Marshall, Miller, Fish, Bushiri, Obita, Campbell, Newell, Levitt, Tavares, Boyle, Vente.

Substitutes: Wollacott, Hanlon, Youan, Jeggo, Stevenson, Harbottle, Delferriere, Whittaker, Landers.

Kilmarnock XI: Dennis, Mayo, Wright, Findlay, Deas, Armstrong, Watson, Lyons, Donnelly, Polworth, Watkins.

Substitutes: Glavin, Sanders, Davies, McKenzie, Kennedy, Murray, Warnock, Dallas, Cameron.

Hibernian forward Martin Boyle is available after sitting out the midweek draw at St Mirren due to a knee issue. Jimmy Jeggo could return after illness but Adam Le Fondre (hamstring), Jake Doyle-Hayes (ankle), Harry McKirdy (heart) and Chris Cadden (Achilles) are all sidelined.

Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes will assess Corrie Ndaba ahead of the trip to Easter Road as he makes his way back from an (Achilles) problem. Kyle Magennis (hamstring) remains out.

Image source, SNS

Hibs manager Nick Montgomery insists that his side are not far away from delivering the victories that would see them climb the table.

The Easter Road side currently sit eighth in the Scottish Premiership, and Montgomery has won just two of his first 10 games in charge.

Late goals have cost Hibs in their last three games, against St Mirren, Aberdeen, and Ross County, but Montgomery believes his players are determined to put things right.

“The boys like controlling games and having the ball, so we just need to continue doing what we’re doing and cut out the lapses in concentration and the small errors that are costing us at the minute,” he told Hibs TV.

“It seems like every time we have made a mistake, it’s cost us but that’s something we have to accept. We have to swallow that and move forward and make sure we continue to learn.

“We keep going and if we keep playing the way we are, I’m more than confident that the results are going to come.

“I think the performances have been really good. It’s just moments in the game where we’ve needed to show street-smarts or game-management to see games out and get what we deserve, but sometimes in those moments if you’re decision-making is wrong, you can get sucker-punched, and we’ve definitely had that a few times.

“But what I love about the boys is the character. We get a knock-back but we get back on the training ground and we move on quickly and start preparing for the next game.”

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

• Hibs have only lost one of their last nine Scottish Premiership meetings with Kilmarnock (W6 D2), going down 1-0 in November 2022.

• Kilmarnock are winless in their last nine Premiership visits to Easter Road (D3 L6), losing each of their last four. Their last such win came in May 2014 (1-0).

• Hibs are unbeaten in their last four league matches at home, although they have only won one of those.

• Kilmarnock have won three of their last four Premiership matches (L1), although all three of these victories came at home, losing their only away game during this run.

• Kilmarnock’s Kyle Vassell has scored four goals in his last four top-flight games, just one fewer than he netted in his first 21 appearances in the division (5).

Hibs host Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday, looking to end their seven-game winless run.

If you were in Nick Montgomery's shoes, would you make changes to the side that drew 2-2 with St Mirren on Wednesday?

Pick your Hibs XI here.

It is only a matter of time before an opponent is on the wrong end of a "wow" performance from Hibs, reckons midfielder Josh Campbell, who is sure an underperforming team is not far from clicking. (Scotsman), external

Read the rest of Friday's Scottish gossip.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, SNS

Martin Watt, BBC Sport Scotland

No wins in seven games. An agonising League Cup exit to 10-man Aberdeen. The joint leakiest defence in the Premiership.

Nick Montgomery is enduring some early turbulence as he tries to turn around Hibs' fortunes. The midweek draw at St Mirren brought two more squandered leads from a team full of attacking pace and threat but too often undone by defensive lapses.

Only Kilmarnock have lost more points from winning positions than Hibs' haul of six this season, while the Leith men's 20 goals conceded in 12 matches is a joint high with Ross County. When Hibs get themselves in front a nervousness soon sets in.

Of course, Hibs' flaws are not a new phenomenon and Montgomery - who is only 10 games into his tenure - deserves to be cut some slack as he tries to put his imprint on a squad he inherited from the sacked Lee Johnson. Patience will be required, not least with his insistence on playing out from the back that has some supporters watching through splayed fingers.

Montgomery will surely be looking to acquire defensive reinforcements when the transfer window opens in January. However, former Easter Road midfielder Michael Stewart believes it's not as simple as solidifying the backline. The fact St Mirren, despite not being at their best, rained in 17 shots on Wednesday night backs up that assertion.

“Hibs are yet to find the right balance in the side," Stewart told BBC Sportsound. "It’s the same recurring themes – they’re playing some nice football, creating opportunities, but shipping too many goals.

"That’s not just down to the defence, the team as a whole needs to be more difficult to play against at times.

"If they’re able to do that with one or two acquisitions and a bit of a nuanced change with the personnel then I think they’ll be okay."

Fellow pundit Steve Thompson added: “Hibs will cause teams problems, but they don’t often enough keep clean sheets or look like they can.

"They concede too many goals and until you fix that it’s going to be difficult to win games regardless of what you do at the other end of the pitch. That’s the biggest problem Montgomery has."

Despite Hibs' patchy recent form, the good news for supporters is their European prospects haven't taken too much of a hit.

Montgomery's men occupy eighth place but are just four points off Kilmarnock in fourth and a further three adrift of third-top St Mirren. A quick rise up the standings is easily achievable if the head coach can eke improvement from his team.